Jobless figures are still rising

Unemployment in Doncaster is rising, new figures show, despite a record number of people in work across the country.

Almost 30 million adults are in work, the highest since 1971, but the situation locally is much more gloomy, with the total number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) last month increasing to 10,056, up from 9,991 in November.

The figure in Ed Miliband’s Doncaster North constituency, which includes Sprotbrough and Mexborough, rose by 42 – from 3,348 to 3,390.

In Doncaster Central, which covers Armthorpe, Balby and the town centre, there was also an increase, from 4,013 to 4,041. A slight improvement was shown in Don Valley, which fell from 2,630 to 2,625.

It means the total number of people claiming JSA last month was 20 per cent higher than two years ago.

The figures also show an increase in long-term joblessness, with the number of people claiming JSA for more than 12 months going up by 50 to 2,870.

The total number of working-age people on out-of-work benefits in Doncaster last month was 5.4 per cent, compared to the UK average of 3.7 per cent.

Labour leader Mr Miliband said: “Unfortunately Doncaster saw yet another rise in unemployment, but that doesn’t tell the whole story – the figures show that last month there were almost 3,000 people claiming out-of-work benefits for more than a year, of which just under a quarter were aged 18-24. That is a bitter blow for our area.

Employment Minister Mark Hoban said: “These are very positive figures showing employment rising for over a year and despite difficult economic circumstances unemployment is lower than when this government took office.”